MLP denies government's claim over Gozo

The Malta Labour Party yesterday again denied that the European Union had accepted treating Gozo as a separate region, dismissing the government's explanation of Gozo's regional status as mere words.

Foreign Minister Joe Borg and Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono on Wednesday issued a statement saying Gozo's regional development will have a separate priority in Malta's plans to spend EU funds after membership.

The Malta-EU Information Centre had said that Malta and Gozo were classified as two separate regions under the Nomenclature of Territorial Statistical Units, NUTS 3.

In a statement, the MLP yesterday said that NUTS or no NUTS, the reality remained that Gozo would not have its own regional institutions and it would not receive any special treatment as a region in favour of farming, industry, crafts or tourism.

Neither had it been accepted as a region of the EU in terms of separate assistance from Malta in the social, economic, administrative and cultural fields.